The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-28
TO PLAY A SMALL PART In JAKE
SHARP's DEFENSE.
Mr.. Parsons Opens His Argument
for the Ex.Railroad Builder
With an Outline.
THE PRISONER EXHIBITING
SIGNS OF A COLLAPSE.
His Own Testimony Proves but q
Faint Pretense to Interest
Defense Testimony.

this was that he passed terrible
night, not even getting as much sleep
90 was his lot Saturday night. Mrs.
Sharp, who had been privileged to
remain with her husband, bad not
resi- ed one moment during the night.
With the beginning OF the reading
OF his testimony before the Senate In
veBtigating committee Sharp opened
his lustreless eyes and attempted to
interest himself in the proceedings.
The frat business ofsthe session was
to sgain adjourn the June Oyer and
Terminer 10 Monday, July 18th, after
which Harrison ID. Kerr, one Of the
Seventh Avenue railroad directors.
w.g called az witness for the prose-
cution, but he falling to respond, Sen.
ate Stsnographer Oorrell was recalled
TO the stand, while the balance OF the
testimony OF Sharp before the Senate
cognmitteu, or so much thereof az the
prorecution desired, was read by Mr..
Nicoll. He fniehed reading the testi-
n1ony at 1l:l7 O'Clock and the people
rested their case.
Elk Alderman Fulgraf came into
court this morning and had short
private conference with Peter Mitch
ell, OF counsel for the defendant,
then hurried out, closely followed by
tho district attorney, who acted as
though he waI fearful that the States
beat witness was going to turn traitor,
and he must do something to prevent
il. A ten minutes rest was taken Of
tor the prosecution closed, after
which Mr. Parsons began the opening
address for the defense.
Mr.. Parsons said that the duty had
fallen upon him 10 open for the do
tense, bat before he proceeded TO do
so, he had two motions to make that
be desired to appear on the records.
First, to ask'the prosecution to elect
whether II would stand upon that
part OF the indictment charging an
agreement TO bride FulgTsf, or on
that part alleging that he was In fact
bribed by Sharp. Motion denied.
Second, that the Court advise the jury
10 atquit the defendant as the case
now stands, under section 40 OF the
Code OF Criminal Procedure. This
motion was also denied and an excep.
ton taken.
Mr.. Parsons then opened as follows:
"If there has been any expectation
that counsel for the defense supposed
that this case was to be won by the
use OF elegant etoric, by eloquent APP
peals TO the sympathy Of the jury, that
expe citation will be hardly realizsd by
any thing that l shall have to say. My
duty 10 simply to state the defendants
care and review the testimony before
you. ] ask your forbearance now be.
cause the defense for the first time has
Q right 10 DO heard. II 10 O great en-
barfassment of q defense Ia every case
that the prosecution has the right 10
put lie case and make Impressions
that may find Judgment In jurors
minds that are difficult to remove. I
may az well say here what shall have
10 say hereafter, that this large mass
OF evidence, known by all men, which
has been introduced by the prosecu-
ton, has made no case. might re-
cite Mr.. Sharp's transactions, as did
the learned Assistant District Attor.
ney, from the beginning, to prove to
you Mr.. Sharp's innocence, but that
would take too much Of your time /
will simply review some OF the evil
dence. No evidence has been pro-
duced OF direct implication OF Mr..
Sharp in this alleged bribery, and
the prosecution acknowledges it's ina
bility TO 30 connect them. II simply
claims that there are circumstances
which point to his guilt and prove it,
as IL says Mr.. Parsons dwelt upon the
fact that the jury had gone into the
box with opinions of or impressions
sgsinst Mr.. Sharpe, but nevertheless
the defendant had a right to expect
that thew wodld do what they had
sworn TO do, find verdict according
10 the evidence" He said: "You re-
member that you are not trying Pear
son, Miller, Fullgrafi, or any OF the
twepty.two indicted aldermen. You
are trying Jacob Sharpe for debauch-
Ing alderman Fullgraf, aud it ia
charged that he was the arch.consplra.
tor--the principal and agent Of thu
action"
MIR. ParGons was strongly opposed to
the reading OF Mr.. Sharp's testimony
before the Senate Investigating Com
nnlttee, thus making him, contrary to
law, q witness against himself. "But
undeY all the disadvantages surround.
ing him he denied that he had any
oonnec tion with the $4,000 which
the prosecution say was o corruption
fund. We will put Mr.. Bliss on the
stand TO tell why he advised Mr.. Sharp
TO testify, and he will say that after
consulting with the most eminent
lawyers, and they all agreed that what
he said there could not be used against
him. The prosecution say there was
an agreement between Sharp and the
aldermen. This they have not proved.
The law says you cannot convict on
the uncOrroboTated evidence Of an 90.
complete. Where In all this case is
there any confederation OF the In
ioImer2"
Mr.. Parsons argued that all the sums
alleged to have been paid ont as a cor
ruption fund did not agree with the
proof offered by the prosecution
which must be accepted by the jury
ag q proof OF Innocence.
The speaker contended that the ties.
hmony of the legi 5lative clerk thai
Sharp offered him $4,000 to interpolate
certain words in q street railroad bill
wac absolutely false, whereas counsel
will produce the bill itself from AL
bauy aud prove that sharp's conten-
ton was that there was something In
the bill that ought to have been taken
out. 81 SHALL" continued counsel
Submit a witness to you who knowE
al about the transactions connected
with the Broadway enterprise down IA
the meeting Of the Board of Alder
men. l shall have him tell you the
story connecedly, and not disconuect.
eddy, rs the prosecution diG, In ref
srsnce 10 the preparation for the early
morning me sting there was great
deal of romance INDUCED in about ii. u
Mr. Parsons concluded his address
with an appeal to the jury not to be
Influenced by anything but the evi,
dence in determining their verdict.
He had spoken for almcsi five hours.
The first witness called for the de
tense was John M. Scribner, OF John
son, scIibner 4 Bright, counsel of the
II L A